C-RAC Reiterates Support for Additional Flexibility to Change Accreditors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC), a collaborative of the nation’s seven largest institutional accrediting agencies, issued a statement in response to a new Dear Colleague Letter released by the Trump Administration on May 1, 2025, regarding the approval process for changing accrediting agencies.

Dr. Heather F. Perfetti, President of Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and Chair of C-RAC said, “C-RAC has previously expressed concern that the current process for institutions to move from one accreditor to another has become overly burdensome and time-consuming. We welcomed an opportunity to reduce bureaucracy, expedite the current process, and eliminate hurdles for institutions seeking a new accreditor, as long as that institution is in good academic standing as required under current federal law. Today’s announcement appears aligned with that.”

To learn more about C-RAC, visit www.c-rac.org. For additional insights from accreditors on the Trump Administration’s recent Executive Order on accreditation, click here.

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About the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions (C-RAC):

C-RAC is a collaborative of the nation’s seven federally recognized institutional accrediting commissions, including the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and WASC Senior College and University Commission. Collectively, C-RAC is responsible for accrediting approximately 3,000 postsecondary, degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, as well as internationally. Accrediting commissions are private, nonprofit organizations. To learn more, visit www.c-rac.org.